Even very small damages to the roof of your home can allow moisture to seep slowly indoors and result in interior damage including hazardous mould growth. Any roof leaks if left unaddressed will worsen exponentially over time. At a certain stage you will not only need to have your roof repaired but may also have to deal with indoor water damage and a difficult to remove mould infestation. The first step in dealing with excess moisture and mould inside your home is to determine the source and cause of the leak, and then have it repaired.
Causes of Roof Leaks
The causes of roof leaks vary, but the most common that lead to slow water damage include:
- Broken or missing shingles
- Improperly installed or damaged flashing
- Use of incorrect roofing materials
- Ice dams
Roof shingles can become damaged or get blown away in strong storms. Sometimes a damaged or missing shingle is obvious, such as when you find roof shingles on the ground in your yard after a storm. However, it's not always easy to see if a shingle is damaged; sometimes the only indication can be after water damage has already occurred and you find evidence of leaking on your ceilings or other areas inside your home.
Flashing, the metal sheeting often installed around the chimney, dormer windows, skylights and vent pipes of your home, if improperly installed or damaged, can cause water to leak into your home and, in turn, cause mould to develop.
Roofing materials are usually specifically designed for particular types of roofs. For example, a roof with a pitch (steepness) that is less than a 3:12 ratio requires materials designed specifically for a flat roof. If your roof was not constructed with the correct and proper fitting materials, this can also cause it to leak.
Ice dams are the ridges of ice that form at the edge of a roof and prevent melting snow water from draining off the roof. The melt water that backs up behind the dam can leak into your home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas.
Signs of Roof Leaks
Common signs of roof leaks include:
- Water marks on ceilings and/or walls
- Discoloured areas on ceilings and/or walls
- Darkening of ceiling paint
- Peeling paint around skylights or dormer windows
- Peeling, cracked, bubbled plaster
- Mould growth around the chimney
- Wood rot in the attic, around skylights or dormer windows
- Discoloured wood in the rafters (may appear as a reddish, rusty color)
- Crumbling, deteriorating drywall
- Musty or mildew smell in the attic
- Mould on attic insulation
- Water seepage during heaving rainstorms or during a snow melt
Roof Leak and Mould: Calling in the Experts
Indoor mould growth poses serious health risks for both humans and animals because it releases spores containing mycotoxins into the air, which can irritate the respiratory system and cause or worsen various existing health issues. It is especially dangerous for individuals suffering from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Mould caused by roof leaks, like mould found elsewhere in the home, requires immediate attention and removal.
Mould inside the home can sometimes be difficult to detect because it can grow in hidden areas, such as behind walls and between the ceiling and roof structure. Mould spores from growth caused by a leaky roof can also spread through the home via the HVAC system.
If you experience water damage and mould caused by roof leaks in your home, you can rely on the professionally trained teams at ServiceMaster Restore to handle the remediation process thoroughly, safely and effectively.
With over 70 years of experience identifying and eliminating mould in homes and buildings of all sizes, our teams of mould specialists have the know-how, resources and equipment necessary to tackle even the toughest of mould challenges.